Ag can’t wait to make use of drones

I just had a flash of the fields of the future. A lone individual is out traveling in futuristic farm country. He decides to set off across a field, keeping an eye on the autonomous tractor that’s working its way back and forth across the acreage in the distance.

Suddenly a metallic dragon fly zooms overhead, makes a quick pass and then hovers directly above his head, sounding a directive that trespassers will be photographed and prosecuted.

No, this isn’t sci-fi. In fact, while it may not involve a security detail, the technology exists now to make that scenario a real one. A recent edition of John Deere’s Furrow magazine carries an article called “Drone Fever” by Larry Reichenberger that relates recent efforts by farmers and ranchers on the use of drone technology.

“It’s certainly on my list,” Reichenberger quotes Kansas farmer Ross Kinsler as saying about a hovering quadcopter to watch his 135 cows. “There are patches of evergreen trees in our pasture that we have to drive into to see the animals, but a drone could peer down on them while we watch on a phone in the pick-up,” he said.

“With today’s cattle prices, we wouldn’t have to save many calves to pay for a $4,500 drone,” said Kinsler.

Indications are that the FAA may free up the use of drones in agriculture before other industries. That has led farmers, crop consultants, UAV makers and service providers to charge ahead, Reichenberger added.

“The benefits of this technology are just too great for us to sit and wait,” said Bret Chilcott, who manufactures the Ag Eagle in Neodesha, Kan.

DID YOU KNOW: In Japan, 30 percent of the crop dusting is done by remote control helicopters.

Author: Steve Tarter

Born in England, raised in Boston, I'm a Midwestern transplant who's called Peoria home for the past 40 years. Married with four grown children, I enjoy journalism, film noir and radio drama. As the song goes, I like coffee; I like tea. Former president of the Apollo Theater in Downtown Peoria, I'm looking for a new raison d'etre.
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One thought on “Ag can’t wait to make use of drones”

You should contact Jim Ackerman at Libby’s Pumpkin Plant 8 Morton. Already been using a drone the company purchased for around $4,000 I believe (price may be off) for work around the plant checking levels in the towers and also for surveying the pumpkins in the field without damaging them by walking on the crop. This was their first year with the drone.